Top Panama Fish Catches

Panama, renowned for its strategic location between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, boasts a vibrant fishing industry that has been a cornerstone of its economy and culture for centuries. The country is famous for its exceptional sport and commercial fishing, with top catches including yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi (dorado), marlin (both black and blue), sailfish, snapper, and roosterfish. The rich biodiversity of Panama’s waters, especially around the Pearl Islands and the Gulf of Chiriquí, attracts anglers from around the world. Historically, Panama’s fishing industry began with small-scale, artisanal fisheries, but expanded significantly in the 20th century with the rise of commercial fleets and export markets, particularly for tuna and shrimp. Today, sustainable practices and sport fishing tourism play an increasingly important role, helping to preserve marine resources while supporting local communities and the national economy.

Rank	Fish Species	Metric Tons
1	Skipjack tuna	61,867
2	Yellowfin tuna	52,409
3	Pacific anchoveta	41,245
4	Pacific thread herring	13,810
5	Bigeye tuna	8,637
6	Spectacled caiman	1,600
7	Common dolphinfish	1,049
8	Crystal shrimp	970
9	Snappers, jobfishes nei	733
10	Croakers, drums nei	725
11	Marine fishes nei	676
12	Frigate tuna	648
13	Penaeus shrimps nei	560
14	Pacific seabobs	537
15	Grunts, sweetlips nei	327
16	Sharks, rays, skates, etc. nei	241
17	Carangids nei	229
18	Little tunny(=Atl.black skipj)	200
19	Albacore	193
20	Pacific sierra	185
21	Kolibri shrimp	184
22	Black skipjack	166
23	Dolphinfishes nei	142
24	Green jack	132
25	Sea catfishes nei	126
26	Atlantic sailfish	122
27	Blue shark	112
28	Wahoo	107
28	Tunas nei	107
30	God's flounder	92
31	Tilapias nei	35
32	Marine worms	19
33	Peacock cichlid	16
34	Blue marlin	15
35	Marlins,sailfishes,etc. nei	9
36	Black marlin	6
36	Green spiny lobster	6
38	Marine molluscs nei	4
39	Bryde's whale	2
39	Sperm whale	2
42	Striped bonito	1
42	Swordfish	1
42	Indo-Pacific sailfish	1

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.